A trial looking at giving R-CHOP chemotherapy with bevacizumab for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (R-CHOP-B)

This trial was looking at giving R-CHOP chemotherapy with bevacizumab to treat diffuse large B cell lymphoma. This trial was supported by Cancer Research UK.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a type of high grade non Hodgkin lymphoma. Doctors usually treat DLBCL with a combination of drugs - rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone. They call this R-CHOP.

In order to grow and multiply, all cells - including tumour cells - need a good blood supply. To encourage blood vessel growth, cells produce a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We know from research that high levels of VEGF may affect how well R-CHOP works for some people with DLBCL.

Bevacizumab is a type of biological therapy that targets VEGF. This stops the lymphoma from developing the blood vessels that it needs in order to grow. The researchers gave bevacizumab with R-CHOP to find out if it could help people with DLBCL.

The aims of this trial were to find out

• The side effects of giving bevacizumab to people with DLBCL
• The side effects of giving bevacizumab and R-CHOP (R-CHOP-B)
• How well the combination of bevacizumab and R-CHOP worked for people with DLBCL